Category Archives: reviews

Brittle Star Reviews

A few issues ago, we introduced reviews into the magazine for the first time under our editorship. We did it because we wanted to give new writers the opportunity to have their first full collections reviewed by sensitive and intelligent reviewers. We also felt it was important to give these books a good amount of space so that our readers get a decent feel for the book. We were often dissatisfied reading poetry book reviews in other magazines or newspapers that gave only a hundred or so words to a book that probably took years to write – especially first collections. On the whole, it’s not the magazine’s fault the reviews have such limited space – there are so many wonderful books published each year and not enough room in the pages to review them all.

This is why we decided to focus on first, full collections only for poetry, and single-author collections of any size (no anthologies) for short fiction. It self-sifts.

And we include no more than three reviews of each form – any more than this and we’re cutting down the review space.

Round pegs, square holes…

We’ve been receiving a range of books for review recently that don’t quite fit what we offer – many of them beautiful second, third, fourth collections, lots of pamphlets, and a few story anthologies, but they’re not right for Brittle Star. Thank you for thinking of us, and we’re really sad not to be able to include them, but we’re being firm here. Unless you’re book is a first, full poetry collection or single-author short fiction collections, we won’t be able to put you forward for review. Also, we can’t review every book we receive – there are lots of first collections being published as well! We pass them onto our reviewers who make the selections of what to include.

Any review books we’ve received that aren’t right for us get included in a new LuckyBag dip we’re launching this Christmas for our Patrons and subscribers, but publishers, please do have a look at our guidelines before submitting to us.

We’ve reviewed some great collections and look forward to reviewing many more. We hope you join us in reading them and enjoy them. And hopefully go and buy the books.